LAS CRUCES >> The drone of T-34s flying over Las Cruces' skies can be heard again.

It's become a familiar sound, one many residents — particularly veterans — love to hear.

"It's the sound of freedom. It just is," said Las Crucen Jeff Gibson, a Marine Corps veterans who served in Iraq. "These guys being here is important in so many ways. They're helping the local economy, which we need since the city's (collection of) gross receipts taxes are down. But more importantly, these are guys who are protecting our freedom, democracy."

The planes, used to train Naval aviators, are back in Las Cruces after a year's absence. The Navy, in particular Air Wing 4 from Corpus Christi, Texas, returned earlier this month and will stay until March 15. About 70 students and 25 instructors are again flying into and out of Las Cruces International Airport.

Robin Zielinski Sun-News U.S. Navy Capt. Nolan Duchateau climbs into his aircraft before a flight out of Las Cruces International Airport.

"It's good to be be back," said Navy Maj. Ian Arvizo, a primary flight instructor who also serves as the spokesman for the Navy's flight training operations. "We're here again to take advantage of the fantastic weather here."

Because it costs the Navy less, last year's training flights were conducted in Roswell. It was only the third time since 2001 that the Navy didn't train in Las Cruces.

The annual economic impact is estimated by city officials to be about $1.5 million. Navy personnel, and ground support personnel who don't live in Las Cruces, stay in hotels, eat in restaurants, and typically shop in many city stores during their stay.

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"This year was of particular interest to local hoteliers who expressed concern about the Navy possibly not coming for winter training exercises and their belief that the city was not supportive of this opportunity," said assistant city manager Brian Denmark, who also serves as city government's chief operating officer. "Such concerns were expressed to the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) as well as other (city) staff who clearly explained that the city is, indeed, proactive in soliciting the Navy to return every year for their training exercises due to the positive impact it has on our local economy.

"City staff from the CVB, Airport management, Economic Development administration and the Fire Department are heavily involved in the recruiting of the Navy."

Otilio Reyes, co-owner of the Luchador food truck, said his business has prospered from the Navy's presence. They park weekdays outside of Las Cruces International Airport and sell food to Navy personnel there who are involved in the flight training.

"We've done very well here, the Navy has been great," Reyes said. "Before they came, we were operating, pretty much, at City Hall. But since we've moved (to the airport) business has been better. We plan on staying out here as long as the Navy does."

Robin Zielinski Sun-News A T-34C Turbo Mentor takes to the skies as the U.S. Navy continues training in the Las Cruces area.

Arvizo said the Navy's operations at the airport consists of "contact training" that is conducted six days a week — every day except Sunday — for about 12 hours a day.

"This is important, vital training involving about a quarter of the Navy's flight student population," Arvizo said. "For an airport this size, there is a lot of traffic that comes in and goes out, and a lot of winged aircraft on the ground here. It keeps our students on their toes. It forces our students to be be better pilots."

The Navy's flight training operations are limited to an approximate 50-mile range around the airport. Most of the training flights occur to the north of the airport. Because of restricted airspace near the Organ Mountains and to the east, Navy training flights are not conducted in those areas.

Arvizo added there will some night flight training, but that will be conducted out of El Paso International Airport.

"The terrain, the mountains, plateaus and mesas, that's a nice change of pace of where we usually work, off shore in Corpus Christi," Arvizo said.

Steve Ramirez can be reached at 575-541-5452

Navy training flights

Home away from home: The U.S. Navy's Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas has been conducting flight training at Las Cruces International Airport for its new pilots since 2001. Only three times since then, including last year, has the Navy not brought its operations to Las Cruces. Typically, its flight training has been conducted in Las Cruces during the first three months of the year primarily the weather is better than it is in Corpus Christi.

What it means to the city: It's estimated the annual economic impact on the Navy's presence in Las Cruces is about $1.5 million. This year, approximately 70 student pilots and 25 flight instructors are staying in Las Cruces hotels and eating in restaurants. Other services needed in conjunction with the Navy's flight training are purchased in Las Cruces, and Naval personnel also buy whatever individual items or services they need at city stores.

The planes: Twenty five T-34 airplanes, all with propellers, are being used for the training flights. The small, two-seat planes include room for the pilot and the instructor. They have a top speed of about 200 mph.